Mike Katz MP? Former councillor selected to fight Hendon

MIKE Katz has had a rollercoaster ride in the recent story of north London politics: he waited a long time to become a Camden councillor but once he finally got elected to Town Hall chamber he found himself the victim of a shock deselection in Kilburn. Various attempts to get elected elsewhere in different positions led to disappointments.

But, to his credit, he always come back for more and today he’s just been selected as the Labour candidate in Hendon for the June 8 general election.

It’s a constituency which Labour wins when the opinion polls are in its favour, and it was understandably a target seat for the party two years. As Andrew Dismore tried to win his seat back, however, the Conservative majority increased from 106 to 3,724. It’s a different landscape now, less favourable to Labour maybe, but expect an energetic campaign from Mike here. “It’s important to fly the flag here, because, not least picking, Mike will send a positive message to the Jewish community there,” one of his supporters texts.

UPDATED:

Mike Katz press statement

“It’s a huge honour to be selected to fight Hendon. I was born and raised in north-west London; my Mum grew up in Edgware and so I know it well. I know from talking to local people how worried they are about their standard of living, cuts to the local NHS and schools and the impact of a job-destroying, cliff edge, hard Brexit. They’re right to fear a future under a Conservative government. If elected, I will fight for an open approach to Europe and Brexit which protects the local economy and jobs. One of Hendon’s greatest strengths is its diversity. I’ve fought hard to challenge antisemitism, racism and all hate speech wherever it rears its head, and I will continue to do so as Hendon’s MP. I look forward to taking over from Andrew Dismore AM, who’s done so much to serve the area for the last two decades, as MP and Assembly Member.”

You don’t mention if he was a Remainer or Brexiteer, Matthew Offord the conservative candidate in Hendon was a Brexiteer. Why isn’t this mentioned, it is just as important as the question are they Labour or Conservative?!